Introduction to AutoCAD

Learning Outcome: By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

- Navigate the AutoCAD interface
- Use AutoCAD Help
- Enter Commands
- Start new drawings
- Perform basic File commands (New, Open, Save)
- Enter and use basic draw commands
- Use basic display navigation tools

AutoCAD  Interface

*Note: AutoCAD 2009 contains multiple user interfaces, notably a new MS Office-styled 'ribbon' interface (below, left),  and a classic interface (below, right), each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Your instructor will determine which interface is most appropriate for your classroom use.

The interfaces can be switched by accessing the Workspace tool.

Using AutoCAD's Help Function:

• To access the Help command:
  • Type HELP at the command Prompt
  • Click on the ? Icon in the Standard Toolbar
  • Press function Key F1
  • Select Help from the Pull Down Menu and select AutoCAD Help

   

• Once inside the help command you will have three choices (tabs):
  • Contents - Allows you to click through to topics in the same way you would use the Table of Contents in a Textbook
  • Index - Allows you to search by name for a topic or command.
  • Search - Searches the entire AutoCAD Online help for matches to the word entered.

   

• Other Help Tips
  • You can Bookmark Help topics for easier reference later.
  • You can print Help topics to keep in your notes.
  • Use Forward and Back buttons to navigate.
  • Follow underlined words to similar commands and more detailed examples.
  • Remember Help is always there! Just look it up!

Command Entry In AutoCAD:

• There are several ways to enter commands in AutoCAD; pulldown toolbars, icon selection, type the command name, or type its command alias (shortcut).
• Rules for typed command entry:
  • No Spaces in command names (AutoCAD interprets spaces as an enter or return)
  • The command must be typed correctly. (i.e. not misspelled, AutoCAD cannot guess what you really want to do)
  • Commands are NOT case sensitive.

   

  Tips for Command Entry:
  • Hitting Enter or Space will repeat the last command entered.
  • Hitting up or down arrows will cycle you through a list of recent commands. Hit enter when the command you want is visible.
  • Right-clicking in the Command Prompt Area will pop-up a menu, recent commands is a list of the most recently used commands.
  • Learn the short-cuts or alias for each command to work faster.

Other Command Entry Tools

• Dynamic Input Option
• Use of Mouse - context sensitive menus
• Graphics Window versus Text Window- Use of F2
• UCS Icon and related Coordinate Display
• Opening and switching between Multiple Drawing
• Running Multiple Copies of AutoCAD - NOT RECOMMENDED

File Commands:

NEW

• To create a NEW file: 
  • Type NEW at the Command Prompt
  • Click on the button marked with a blank page in the Standard toolbar. 
  • Or use the File Pull-down and click on New
• When starting a New file the default setting for AutoCAD is to select a template file, which provides settings for the file type, most importantly units setup. ISO templates are metric, others are imperial.

SAVE & SAVEAS

• To SAVE your drawing file: 
  • Type SAVE
  • Click on the button with the Disk in the Standard Toolbar. 
  • Or use the File pull-down and click on Save
• To Save your drawing file as a new name: 
  • Type SAVEAS 
  • Or use the File pull-down and click on SAVEAS
• When you save your file you will need to give it a NAME and a LOCATION.
  • The drawing NAME can be anything you like but avoid special characters like ! @ % ^ & * ( ) etc... keep it to letters and numbers.
  • Your drawing file will be saved with the file extension .DWG
  • There is no limit to the length of the name you give your drawing, BUT if you which to work with older versions of AutoCAD limit your name to eight characters.
  • The same rules apply when creating and naming the location of your file.
  • REMEMBER what you named and where you saved your file. A lost file is just as bad as a deleted or unsaved file.
  • SAVE OFTEN. Computer and user error could cause you to crash. Save your drawing every 15 min to avoid lost work.
  • BACK-UP your drawings. Copy your drawings onto storage devices and store them in a safe place so that should anything go wrong you have a back-up copy. This is your insurance policy against disaster.

• Measurement system
• Units
• View - Zoom - All

OPEN

• To OPEN your drawing:
  • Type OPEN at the Command Prompt.
  • Click on the button with the Open Folder in the Standard Toolbar. 
  • Or use the File pull-down and click on Open.
• When Opening your file you will need to REMEMBER what you called it and where you saved it.
• Look at the right of the OPEN dialogue to se a preview of your drawing as it was when you saved it last.

BACK-UP FILES

• AutoCAD can create automatic back-up files of your drawings, BUT do not rely on them!
  • Back-up files are created after you save your drawing for a second time.
  • Back-up drawings have the file extension .BAK
  • To Open a Back-up file use Windows explorer to rename the file. Change the .BAK extension to .DWG

Work Strategy

• Always open files from a local fixed drive (i.e. DO NOT work directly from removable media or a network drive)
• Back-up you important data files to a safe location (O: drive!)

Basic Draw Commands

AutoCAD Drawings are made up of basic elements or objects. We will use these basic objects to create our drawings. Some of the basic object types are:

LINE [ L ]- The line command creates a line defined by two points which the user selects by either clicking those points or typing coordinates at the command prompt.

CIRCLE [ C ] - The circle command draws a circle defined by its center and radius/diameter, or 2 or 3 points on its diameter.

ARC [ A ] -  The arc command creates an arc which is defined by three pieces of information such as center, diameter/radius, arc length, angle, and direction. Arcs are usually drawn counter-clockwise.

Please note: To execute these commands either type them at the command prompt, use the draw pull-down, or click on the appropriate button.

• Zoom
  • All
  • Extents
  • Window
  • Previous
• Pan
• Redraw/Regen
• Using the mouse to pan and zoom